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Seems the Optima, Javelin, Turbo Optima, and Optima Pro all used the same chassis. From the limited pics here, looks like sway bars, gold colored dampers, tire diameter, and of course the body are the only major differences.

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Seems the Optima, Javelin, Turbo Optima, and Optima Pro all used the same chassis. From the limited pics here, looks like sway bars, gold colored dampers, tire diameter, and of course the body are the only major differences.

Also an under chassis guard was added to the turbo back in the day. The shock towers were slightly modified (also on the Javelin) for the gold shocks over the normal optima also

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The 2019 re-release however might not please everybody as the buggy features updated gold shock absorbers with threaded big bore shock bodies, something the purist might not like as the original standard bore shocks were of a clamping design with plain bodies.

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The 2019 re-release however might not please everybody as the buggy features updated gold shock absorbers with threaded big bore shock bodies, something the purist might not like as the original standard bore shocks were of a clamping design with plain bodies.

Which is a bit disappointing as there is really nothing wrong with the originals. In my experience they perform fantastically and are better than a lot of modern performance shocks.

I guess if the Mid does come back then it will have these new shocks too.

As has already been stated though, if the rumours are true, this kit really needs to sell well for there to be any chance of a Mid/Ultima re-release happening. Get your wallets out people.....

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@Wandy, I absolutely agree with respect to the original gold shocks. I have a vintage Optima Mid with those gold shocks and they perform very well! Anyway, I was always impressed by Kyosho's high quality parts.

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The new gold plating does seem to be a different shade of gold to the original. It's early days of course with only a few photos of the new buggy....but based on the photos I prefer the original shade of gold to this new variant. Oh well, at least they made they effort.